
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What more can President Biden do to place a welcome mat over Ukraine for Russian despot Vladimir Putin? ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Week after week – as Putin built up his war machine on the border of Ukraine &#8212; Biden promised to impose Draconian sanctions if Russian troops crossed the border. ; He never said what they would be – and based on the effectiveness of past sanctions, they may not be quite as Draconian as Biden alleges.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden speaks of the unprecedented unity of the NATO nations in taking strong actions against an invasion. ; In reality, NATO is far from unified. ; Germany not only rejected sending arms to Ukraine, but they also denied permission of arms-bearing British aircraft to enter German airspace. ; While Biden says that a Russian invasion will cause the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline from Russia. German Chancellor Scholtz has not confirmed that.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Apart from some vague language about sanctions, Biden has done nothing to discourage Putin. ; In fact, he has done a lot to give the Russian dictator the green light.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">First, Biden has said that no matter what Putin does, no American troops will be sent to discourage an invasion or repel one. ; He has repeated it so many times, that Putin well understands that America will stand down in the face of an invasion – as will NATO. ; To further clear the path for Putin, Biden has pulled out our National Guard military advisors.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden has now emphatically told Putin that under no circumstances will the United States come to the rescue of any Americans trapped in Ukraine. ; They have been advised to leave. ; If they do not … tough. ; I cannot recall another time that an American President did not proclaim that America will protect Americans overseas &#8212; or wreak retribution on any country or terrorist organization that will harm or hold Americans as hostages. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Biden has replaced the no American left behind policy with a “screw you” policy. ; At least this time, Biden is proclaiming his abandonment policy up front – unlike Afghanistan, where he promised to leave no American (or friendly Afghan) behind &#8211;until he did.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As a further symbol of abandoning Ukraine, Biden is drawing down the American embassy to a skeleton staff – and it is likely they will fly out on military aircraft the moment the first Russian tank breaches the border.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To make sure Biden gets the message that the United States will not defend Ukraine, Biden said that no American soldiers will fight Russian soldiers under any circumstances. ; As a show of strength, however, Biden moves our European troops around within NATO where they will not interfere with a Putin invasion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Geez! ; How many times can Biden give assurances to Putin that America will not take any specific action against a Russian invasion other than some sanctions that Putin will accept as a small payment for acquiring Ukraine – with all its assets and its strategic location?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Putin already has the Crimea. He has effective control of the Donbas region of Ukraine – and now he is poised to take it all.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There are those on the right and on the left who believe that America has no security interest in Ukraine. ; They are an amalgam of isolationist and anti-war zealots. ; It is an “island America” mentality. ; Biden’s incompetence has an appeal for them.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Of course, America has a significant security interest in Ukraine. ; It is a modern nation with major resources and productivity. ; They are a buffer that keeps Russian troops off the eastern border of Europe (NATO). ; The fall of Ukraine – especially after Afghanistan – empowers American adversaries and re-enkindles the once declining terrorism. ; It moves one more significant piece of geography from our side to their side.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The potential invasion of Ukraine is not a one-off. ; It is the next step in the series of successes for Putin in rebuilding the old Soviet Union &#8212; successes that we opposed with sanctions and endless diplomatic double-talk, to no avail.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The loss of Ukraine makes America weaker on the world stage. ; And the American President is virtually inviting Putin to invade. ; That will inevitably cause a lot more damage to the American Republic than several hundred rioters in a four-hour riot on Capitol Hill.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Biden rolls out the welcome mat for Putin
